Organization: Källkritikbyrån
Applicant: Åsa Larsson
Assessor: Ester Appelgren
Background
This is an application for renewal. The applicant is an established fact-checker in Sweden.
Assessment Conclusion
My assessment is that the applicant fulfils the criteria.
I only had one small recommendation, to change the images provided in the section about lectures. I would recommend this change so that the applicant in the eyes of the general public regardless of audience members' political views and preunderstanding of non-partisan organizations, will think that Källlkritikbyrån is completely non-political.
For the future, I would just like to point out that there are quite a lot of stories focusing on reappering claims since they once again have gone viral. Here stories are based on previous fact-checks, either international or published previously by Källkritikbyrån. These stories are somehow a bit problematic, since they are not following the same pattern that new stories do. They are not in any way wrong, they are important and accurate, but they kind of dillute the overall impression.
Ester Appelgren assesses application as Compliant
A short summary in native publishing language
Jag rekommenderar IFCN att godkänna er ansökan. Tror att det vore bra att blanda upp ABF-bilderna med andra sorters evenemang eller byta ut dem, även om ABF är en politiskt oberoende organisation. Nu måste det finnas så många olika evenemang som ni har föreläst på som kan ges som exempelbilder.
Section 1: Eligibility to be a signatory
To be eligible to be a signatory, applicants must meet these six criteria
- 1.1 The applicant is a legally registered organization, or a distinct team or unit within a legally registered organization, and details of this are easily found on its website.
- 1.2 The team, unit or organization is set up exclusively for the purpose of fact-checking.
- 1.3 The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application. For applicants from countries with at least 5 or more verified signatories need to have at least a fact check a week over the twelve months of publishing track. Consult to factchecknet@poynter.org for confirmation.
- 1.4 On average, at least 75% of the applicant’s fact checks focus on claims related to issues that, in the view of the IFCN, relate to or could have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society.
- 1.5 The applicant’s editorial output is not, in the view of the IFCN, controlled by the state, a political party or politician.
- 1.6 If the organization receives funding from local or foreign state or political sources, it provides a statement on its site setting out to the satisfaction of the IFCN, how it ensures its funders do not influence the findings of its reports.
Criteria 1.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please explain where on your website you set out information about your organization’s legal status and how this complies with criteria. Attach a link to the relevant page of your website.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago)
We are a legally registered company with the number 559227-6371 at the Swedish Bolagsverket (Swedish Companies Registration Office). We are a factchecking organization and this is apparent on our website here: https://kallkritikbyran.se/om-oss/
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago)
This is an application for renewal. Källkritikbyrån is an established fact-checking organization in Sweden.
done_all 1.1 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 1.2
Proof you meet criteria
Please answer the following questions – (see notes in Guidelines for Application on how to answer)
1. When and why was your fact-checking operation started?
2. How many people work or volunteer in the organization and what are their roles?
3. What different activities does your organization carry out?
4. What are the goals of your fact-checking operation over the coming year?
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
1. The organization Källkritikbyrån started Oct 2019, but it is a continuation of the now cancelled Viralgranskaren. The three founders of Viralgranskaren have founded Källkritikbyrån and that has been covered in Swedish media:
https://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/kallkritikbyran-tar-over-jakten-pa-fejk-pa-natet/
Viralgranskaren was started March 2014 and ended with the cancellation of Metro in Aug 2019. We applied for and was accepted as a signatory of IFCN Code of principles twice and would have applied for a third year, but the crisis put a stop to that. We, the three founders of Viralgranskaren, Jack Werner, Linnéa Jonjons and Åsa Larsson, decided to start over and try to save Viralgranskaren and the only way in the end turned out to be to start over with Källkritikbyrån.
2. Åsa Larsson is the only employee in the company and she is editor-in-chief and "ansvarig utgivare" (publisher). The other two founders Jack Werner and Linnéa Jonjons help in different ways, but are not employed in the company.
3. Factchecks, cooperations with other media, lectures and producing guides and helpful tools for the general public to become better at factchecking things. We collaborate with Nordic factcheckers and researchers in The Nordic Observatory for Digital Media and Information Disorder (NORDIS).
4. To keep factchecking the Swedish social media scene and raise awareness of media literacy issues. We will keep working together with factcheckers, both our Nordic neighbors and within the IFCN. We try to help researchers in the field of media literacy and disinformation studies as well.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The purpose of Källkritikbyrån is to do fact-checks. It is a small organisation with one employee and two associate employees. The three of them also do journalistic consultancy work related to fact-checking for the public service media companies in Sweden.
done_all 1.2 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 1.3
Proof you meet criteria
- The applicant has published an average of at least one fact check a week over the course of the six months prior to the date of application.
- For applicants from countries with at least 5 or more verified signatories need to have at least a fact check a week over the twelve months of publishing track.
- Consult to factchecknet@poynter.org for confirmation.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The date of application is 21 June 2023 so we're counting from 21 December 2022, which is six months prior to that, and we have published an average of at least one fact check a week. We've attached a selection below.
The evolution of the mis- and disinformation surrounding the corona pandemic that first had us doing rumors and checks on the science surrounding the virus in 2020, and then a heavy focus on vaccines, has this year ended up in a more general conspiracy theory environment, where global institutions such as the World Health Organization are in the line of fire. Climate issues is back on the table and also more, for Sweden classical, immigration stories. We think that all factchecks we've done have had an impact on either individuals or society as a whole, where groups spread lies either about each other or about some aspect of life or structures of society. Even the factchecks of scammers trying to vest money out of the gullible show the general principles of media literacy and what can happen to people that can't see through attempts to fool them. We also think that fact checks of AI-generated content are important, because they indicate that we may have a problematic future ahead.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The applicant has published 37 fact-checks during the 6-month period which is over the 24 fact-check limit (one fact-check per week on average).
done_all 1.3 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 1.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous three months. No additional information required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The review of the sample shows that the majority of the fact-checks by Källkritikbyrån concerns stories that does have an impact on the welfare or well-being of individuals, the general public or society, such as stories on the mis or disinformation about pandemic/vaccines, contests on Facebook, health advise, climate change etc. There are a small number of stories with a historical background. These may fall outside of the IFCN criteria however, the majority of the published fact-checks are in the interest of the general public or the society.
done_all 1.4 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 1.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please explain any commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship your organization has to the state, politicians or political parties in the country or countries you cover. Also explain funding or support received from foreign as well as local state or political actors over the previous financial year.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
We are not controlled by the state or political parties and have no commercial, financial and/or institutional relationship to government or politicians. We are collaborating with Nordic factcheckers and researchers in The Nordic Observatory for Digital Media and Information Disorder (NORDIS), a project funded by the European Commission. Information about this is posted here on our website: https://kallkritikbyran.se/press/ and under the About us-section. There you can also find information on the Meta Third Party Fact-Checking program that Källkritikbyrån is a part of: https://kallkritikbyran.se/om-oss/
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
There is a description on in the About section on funding. The external collaborations that include funding are described at different places on the web page.
done_all 1.5 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 1.6
Proof you meet criteria
If you confirmed the organization receives funding from local or foreign state or political sources, provide a link to where on your website you set out how you ensure the editorial independence of your work.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In order to preserve the fact-checkers’ editorial independence and impartiality NORDIS work independently of the EU, national authorities and other external entities. This is stated on the Nordis page and linked from our About us-section under the section on Nordis: https://datalab.au.dk/nordis
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The funding from the EU project is a joint research project. The details about this cooperation is specified on the website.
done_all 1.6 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Section 2: A commitment to Non-partisanship and Fairness
To be compliant on nonpartisanship and fairness, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 2.1 The applicant fact-checks using the same high standards of evidence and judgement for equivalent claims regardless of who made the claim.
- 2.2 The applicant does not unduly concentrate its fact-checking on any one side, considers the reach and importance of claims it selects to check and publishes a short statement on its website to set out how it selects claims to check.
- 2.3 The applicant discloses in its fact checks relevant interests of the sources it quotes where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided. It also discloses in its fact checks any commercial or other such relationships it has that a member of the public might reasonably conclude could influence the findings of the fact check.
- 2.4 The applicant is not as an organization affiliated with nor declares or shows support for any party, any politician or political candidate, nor does it advocate for or against any policy positions on any issues save for transparency and accuracy in public debate.
- 2.5 The applicant sets out its policy on non-partisanship for staff on its site. Save for the issues of accuracy and transparency, the applicant’s staff do not get involved in advocacy or publicise their views on policy issues the organization might fact check in such a way as might lead a reasonable member of the public to see the organization’s work as biased.
Criteria 2.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please share links to 10 fact checks published over the past year that you believe demonstrate your non-partisanship.
Please briefly explain how the fact checks selected show that (I) you use the same high standards of evidence for equivalent claims, (II) follow the same essential process for every fact check and (III) let the evidence dictate your conclusions.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Our model is to check viral claims. We have not, as some other factchecking organizations, focused on factchecking quotes from politicians or powerful people for example. A more statement-oriented style of factchecking would have made more claims easier to categorize into different political camps. Viral claims don't always reflect sides in political issues that clearly and when they do the right wing sphere has a lot more material that goes viral. But we try to pick from all sides.
We use the same methods as standard, we tell the reader where we encountered the claim, whether it's been spread by Swedish users, try to account for how viral the claim is and in which context it's been spread. Then we backtrack it to the source, ask relevant experts about the facts and present them in the article.
We adhere to the code of conduct for journalists in Sweden: https://www.sjf.se/yrkesfragor/yrkesetik/yrkesetiska-regler
And the ethics code for publicists, in English here: http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/j6075/edit/ethiccodes/SWEDEN.html
10 examples:
We have checked claims that were meant as attacks on political adversaries on both sides of the political spectrum:
https://kallkritikbyran.se/sd-kandidater-stalls-mot-invandrare-jamforelse-om-brott-haltar/
https://kallkritikbyran.se/fa-marker-att-fejkade-tweets-ar-manipulerade-sa-har-gar-det-till/
We've written about errors and conspiracy theories in established media outlets, as well as newer publications and fringe media sites:
https://kallkritikbyran.se/ogrundade-pastaenden-om-stralning-i-framgangspodden/
https://kallkritikbyran.se/vilseledande-pastaenden-om-cancer-och-cbd-olja-i-framgangspodden/
https://kallkritikbyran.se/inte-roligt-alls-men-fel-intraffar-sa-sager-mediecheferna-om-missarna/
https://kallkritikbyran.se/stulna-fartkamerorna-till-kriget-i-ukraina-ett-rykte-pa-natet/
https://kallkritikbyran.se/fel-i-epoch-times-artikel-om-vaccinproduktion/
And we use experts such as scientists and professionals and we also try to reach as close to the involved parties as possible when checking a story:
https://kallkritikbyran.se/video-vilseleder-om-sex-och-pornografi-i-laroplanen/
https://kallkritikbyran.se/elsa-widding-byter-fokus-sprider-antivaccinpropaganda/
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The topics of fact-checks are in general not related to politics but rather viral topics spread globally. However, there seems to be a tendency to do fact-checks of claims made by politicians from SD.
done_all 2.1 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 2.2
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to a place on your website where you explain how you select claims to check, explaining how you ensure you do not unduly concentrate your fact-checking on any one side, and how you consider the reach and importance of the claims you select to check.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As previously mentioned, I only found very few stories where politicians were part of the story. The majority of the stories does not have political topics. This would be different if there was an election coming up. That is not the case for the latest 6 month period that this application is concerned with.
In those few cases where claims were made by politicians, it was politicians that had connections to one political party, SD. The stories concerned anti vaccine issues, and one story loosely related to immigration.
done_all 2.2 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 2.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous year. No additional information required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Yes, in a few stories, the applicant explained relevant interests of those that made false claims, most often these reasons were of commercial nature for that person that originally had spread a false claim.
done_all 2.3 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 2.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will assess compliance through a review of the fact checks published over the previous year. No additional information required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The review of fact-checks does not reveal any evidence of that the applicant takes any policy positions.
done_all 2.4 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 2.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to a place on your website where you publish a statement setting out your policy on non-partisanship for staff and how it ensures the organization meets this criteria.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Källkritikbyrån
19-Jul-2023 (1 year ago)
https://kallkritikbyran.se/var-journalistik/
We've updated the lecture section with other images.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
There is policy of non-partianship that is clear and straightforward.
However, since my last review of Källkritikbyrån, I have noticed something that I would recommend the applicant to change. In the lecture section (https://kallkritikbyran.se/forelasningar/), there is a description on the possibility to invite the applicant's founders as lecturers at conferences and events on fact-checking. While the text is objective, the images are not. Images on this page is from an event at ABF (Workers’ Educational Association). While this organization is a politically independent organization, it does share values with the Swedish political parties S and V (https://www.abf.se/om-abf/in-english/).
The first time I assessed Källkritikbyrån I thought that this was perhaps one of their first events as lecturers, and they wanted to post photos from a succesful event to promote themselves. However, now since time has passed there must be images from other events to also include on this page and thus create a non political undertone with the images. I think it would be best to be careful with what events to promote as part of the brand of Källkritikbyrån to ensure complete independence.
cancel 2.5 marked as Request change by Ester Appelgren.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
08-Aug-2023 (1 year ago)
There is policy of non-partianship that is clear and straightforward.
However, since my last review of Källkritikbyrån, I have noticed something that I would recommend the applicant to change. In the lecture section (https://kallkritikbyran.se/forelasningar/), there is a description on the possibility to invite the applicant's founders as lecturers at conferences and events on fact-checking. While the text is objective, the images are not. Images on this page is from an event at ABF (Workers’ Educational Association). While this organization is a politically independent organization, it does share values with the Swedish political parties S and V (https://www.abf.se/om-abf/in-english/).
The first time I assessed Källkritikbyrån I thought that this was perhaps one of their first events as lecturers, and they wanted to post photos from a succesful event to promote themselves. However, now since time has passed there must be images from other events to also include on this page and thus create a non political undertone with the images. I think it would be best to be careful with what events to promote as part of the brand of Källkritikbyrån to ensure complete independence.
done_all 2.5 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Section 3: A commitment to Standards and Transparency of Sources
To be compliant on sources, applicants must meet these four criteria
- 3.1 The applicant identifies the source of all significant evidence used in their fact checks, providing relevant links where the source is available online, in such a way that users can replicate their work if they wish. In cases where identifying the source would compromise the source’s personal security, the applicant provides as much detail as compatible with the source’s safety.
- 3.2 The applicant uses the best available primary, not secondary, sources of evidence wherever suitable primary sources are available. Where suitable primary sources are not available, the applicant explains the use of a secondary source.
- 3.3 The applicant checks all key elements of claims against more than one named source of evidence save where the one source is the only source relevant on the topic.
- 3.4 The applicant identifies in its fact checks the relevant interests of the sources it uses where the reader might reasonably conclude those interests could influence the accuracy of the evidence provided.
Criteria 3.1
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In my sample I found that links are always provided in the fact-checks. Furthermore, there are often very detailed guides on how to fact-check and thus replicate the applicant's work.
done_all 3.1 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 3.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The majority of the stories are using primary sources such as scientists, experts at authorities and company representatives. However, there are also quite a large amount of stories that are based on secondary sources only, most often other media companies or other fact-checkers.
done_all 3.2 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 3.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In the majority of the fact-checks, several experts, most commonly scientists are primary sources. Relevant links are provided and quite often the person behind a claim is contacted and has been quoted in the story.
done_all 3.3 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 3.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the applicant’s use of sources in a randomised sample of its fact checks to assess compliance. No additional evidence is required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
I was impressed to find at least four stories where the relevant motives of those that make fake claims were explained. This is usually not found in nordic fact-checks.
done_all 3.4 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Section 4: A commitment to Transparency of Funding & Organization
To be compliant on funding and organization, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 4.1 Applicants that are independent organizations have a page on their website detailing each source of funding accounting for 5% or more of total revenue for its previous financial year. This page also sets out the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).
- 4.2 Applicants that are the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization make a statement on ownership.
- 4.3 A statement on the applicant’s website sets out the applicant’s organizational structure and makes clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.
- 4.4 A page on the applicant’s website details the professional biography of all those who, according to the organizational structure and play a significant part in its editorial output.
- 4.5 The applicant provides easy means on its website and/or via social media for users to communicate with the editorial team.
Criteria 4.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please confirm whether you are an ‘independent organization’
or ‘the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization’ and share proof of this organizational status.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
We are an independent organization.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Källkritikbyrån is an independent organization. Sources of income is provided on the webpage.
done_all 4.1 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 4.2
Proof you meet criteria
If your organization is an “independent organization”, please share a link to the page on your website where you detail your funding and indicate the legal form in which the organization is registered (e.g. as a non-profit, as a company etc).
If your organization is “the fact-checking section or unit of a media house or other parent organization”, please share a link to the statement on your website about your ownership.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Yes, sources of funding is described on the web page.
done_all 4.2 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 4.3
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you set out your organizational structure, making clear how and by whom editorial control is exercised.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The structure is clear. The organization is very small with only one employee and two more co-founders.
done_all 4.3 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 4.4
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you set out the professional biographies of those who play a significant part in your organization’s editorial output.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Yes, there are biographies available on the website.
done_all 4.4 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 4.5
Proof you meet criteria
Please share a link to where on your website you encourage users to communicate with your editorial team.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
On the first page we have a box for tips:
And in the bottom of most of the articles we encourage people to send tips:
https://kallkritikbyran.se/fejkartikel-om-klimataktivist-lurar-twitter-anvandare/
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
There are several places on the website where the audience members are instructed on how to contact the editorial staff.
done_all 4.5 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Section 5: A commitment to Standards and Transparency of Methodology
To be compliant on methodology, applicants must meet these six criteria
- 5.1 The applicant publishes on its website a statement about the methodology it uses to select, research, write and publish its fact checks.
- 5.2 The applicant selects claims to check based primarily on the reach and importance of the claims, and where possible explains the reason for choosing the claim to check.
- 5.3 The applicant sets out in its fact checks relevant evidence that appears to support the claim as well as relevant evidence that appears to undermine it.
- 5.4 The applicant in its fact checks assesses the merits of the evidence found using the same high standards applied to evidence on equivalent claims, regardless of who made the claim.
- 5.5 The applicant seeks where possible to contact those who made the claim to seek supporting evidence, noting that (I) this is often not possible with online claims, (II) if the person who makes the claim fails to reply in a timely way this should not impede the fact check, (III) if a speaker adds caveats to the claim, the fact-checker should be free to continue with checking the original claim, (IV) fact-checkers may not wish to contact the person who made the claim for safety or other legitimate reasons.
- 5.6 The applicant encourages users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable.
Criteria 5.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a link to the statement on your website that explains the methodology you use to select, research, write and publish your fact checks.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In the section "Our Journalism" there is a description on the method. The journalistic work method is emphasized and justified in this text with some examples to illustrate what one can expect as an audience member.
done_all 5.1 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 5.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Apart from the "vandringssägen" stories (walking legend stories), it appears as if claims are selected if they are viral on social media in Sweden.
done_all 5.2 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 5.3
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Yes, the stories are structured around presenting evidence to support or falsify a claim. Stories are often quite long and present multiple kinds of evidence using links and relevant sources. I did find some stories that were rewrites from international fact-checkers, and they did not present the same pattern. There were also some stories that contained a description of a claim only to present it as old and already fact-checked by the applicant previously, such as the reappearance of viral fake contests andfake years on weather charts.
done_all 5.3 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 5.4
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
In original fact-checks made by Källkritikbyrån the same high standards are used. There is a difference to the walking legends, to the rewrites of other fact-checkers stories and the repetition of re-appearing claims.
done_all 5.4 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 5.5
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the methodology used in a randomised sample of your fact checks to assess compliance with these criteria. No additional evidence is required.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
As previously mentioned, several stories include quotes from those that made the claim. This is impressive! When they have not responded, but have been contacted this is also clearly described.
done_all 5.5 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 5.6
Proof you meet criteria
Please describe how you encourage users to send in claims to check, while making it clear what readers can legitimately expect will be fact-checked and what isn’t fact-checkable. Include links where appropriate. If you do not allow this, explain why.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
We encourage readers to send us claims on our page and in our social media channels, for example this is pinned to our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/kallkritikbyran/posts/113390343598317
And we continuously remind people that they can send us tips in the bottom of our articles.
We communicate with most of the people who are sending us tips directly, by answering their emails etc. We also outline our reasoning regarding viral stories here:
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Yes, the applicant makes it possible for the audience to send in claims for fact-checks and explains what kinds of stories that will be assessed by the applicant.
done_all 5.6 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Section 6: A commitment to an Open & Honest Corrections Policy
To be compliant on corrections policy, applicants must meet these five criteria
- 6.1 The applicant has a corrections or complaints policy that is easily visible and accessible on the organization’s website or frequently referenced in broadcasts.
- 6.2 The policy sets out clear definitions of what it does and does not cover, how major mistakes, especially those requiring revised conclusions of a fact check, are handled, and the fact that some complaints may justify no response. This policy is adhered to scrupulously.
- 6.3 Where credible evidence is provided that the applicant has made a mistake worthy of correction, the applicant makes a correction openly and transparently, seeking as far as possible to ensure that users of the original see the correction and the corrected version.
- 6.4 The applicant, if an existing signatory, should either on its corrections/complaints page or on the page where it declares itself an IFCN signatory inform users that if they believe the signatory is violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN, with a link to the IFCN site.
- 6.5 If the applicant is the fact-checking unit of a media company, it is a requirement of signatory status that the parent media company has and adheres to an open and honest corrections policy.
Criteria 6.1
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a link to where you publish on your website your corrections or complaints policy. If you are primarily a broadcaster, please provide evidence you frequently reference your corrections policy in broadcasts.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
On the page "Our journalism" there is a short corrections policy and instructions on how to complain.
done_all 6.1 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 6.2
Proof you meet criteria
The assessor will review the corrections policy to verify it meets critera. No additional information needed.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The policy is very short but it encourages audience members to complain if they think something is wrong. A number of situations are mentioned and further down in the text about media ethics the applicant explains their journalistic position in society.
done_all 6.2 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 6.3
Proof you meet criteria
Please provide a short statement about how the policy was adhered to over the previous year (or six months if this is the first application) including evidence of two examples of the responses provided by the applicant to a correction request over the previous year. Where no correction request has been made in the previous year, you must state this in your application, which will be publicly available in the assessment if your application is successful.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
We received a corrections request and added a clarification/correction to this article:
https://kallkritikbyran.se/karusell-av-logner-nar-greta-thunberg-syns-i-medierna/
We've also updated several articles with information and regarding new developments, for example in these:
https://kallkritikbyran.se/forskare-om-elsa-widdings-uttalanden-i-riksdagen-felaktig-bild/
https://kallkritikbyran.se/tiktok-profil-jag-kommer-personligen-lamna-varenda-krona-till-flickan/
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
The applicant appears to follow the policy and has made a few corrections and updates over the 6 month period in accordance with the policy.
done_all 6.3 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 6.4
Proof you meet criteria
If you are an existing signatory, please provide a link to show where on your site you inform users that if they believe you are violating the IFCN Code, they may inform the IFCN of this, with a link to the complaints page on the IFCN site.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Yes, there is a link in the about section on how to report Källkritikbyrån to the IFCN.
done_all 6.4 marked as Compliant by Ester Appelgren.
Criteria 6.5
Proof you meet criteria
If you are the fact-checking unit of a media company, please provide a link to the parent media company’s honest and open corrections policy and provide evidence that it adheres to this.
Källkritikbyrån
14-Jun-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
We are not.
Ester Appelgren Assessor
06-Jul-2023 (1 year ago) Updated: 1 year ago
Källkritikbyrån is a stand-alone organization.